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cnbc.com
From Hyatt to Holiday Inn, America's free hotel breakfast is facing a K-shaped economic threat
Free breakfast is a staple of the hospitality industry, but from Hyatt to Holiday Inn and Marriott, the economics and hotel business models are changing.
theguardian.com
Welsh munitions factory seen as crucial to boosting stockpiles is still yet to open
Exclusive: Delay at Glascoed is latest setback for armed forces and for UK’s capacity to supply shells to UkraineA new factory in Wales seen as crucial to boosting UK munitions production remains unopened more than six months after its planned launch, adding to a string of delays dogging the armed forces.The explosives facility at Glascoed, south Wales, was expected to bring a 16-fold increase in Britain’s capacity to make artillery shells, replenishing dwindling stock and increasing supplies for Ukraine. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Starmer has chance to put overseas aid and debt relief on G20 agenda | Heather Stewart
Reclaiming Labour’s internationalist heart could also stop disillusioned voters drifting towards Lib Dems and GreensIf Keir Starmer wants to win back disillusioned voters deserting his party for the Liberal Democrats or the Greens, he could do worse than rediscover Labour’s longstanding moral commitment to international development.Since cutting the overseas aid budget to fund higher defence spending – losing the excellent Anneliese Dodds in the process – Labour has had little to say on the subject, aside from the fact that 0.3% of national income is the new normal. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Some European policymakers welcome U.S. Secretary of State Rubio's warm words, others remain cautious
Rubio's comments at the Munich Security Conference struck a softer tone than Vice President JD Vance's at last year's event.
theguardian.com
Trump touts climate savings but new rule set to push up US prices
Critics accuse administration of ‘cooking the books’ by claiming US would save $1.3bn from climate finding reversalThe Trump administration claims its latest move to gut climate regulations and end all greenhouse gas standards for vehicles will save Americans money. But its own analysis indicates that the new rule will push up gas prices, and that the benefits of the rollback are unlikely to outweigh the costs.On Thursday, the president and his environmental secretary Lee Zeldin announced the finalized repeal of the endangerment finding, a legal determination which underpins virtually all federal climate regulations. He claimed the rollback would save the US $1.3tn by 2055. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Gender pay gap won't close for another 30 years, warns union
The average woman employee "effectively works for 47 days of the year for free," according to the Trades Union Congress.
theguardian.com
Weight-loss race: how switch from injections to pills is expanding big pharma’s hopes
Tablets could make treatment more mainstream, with sector predicted to be worth $200bn by end of the decade“I just felt slow: I want to be able to do anything my kids want to do and not have weight be a factor. Even a ride or a water park – things have weight limits,” says Melody Ewert, 44, from Minnesota.Ewert has just switched from Eli Lilly’s Zepbound weekly injection to Novo Nordisk’s new daily Wegovy pill. Analysts believe the arrival of easy-to-take tablets could push weight-loss treatments further into the mainstream in a year that has been described as “pivotal” for the booming anti-obesity market. The new pills, like the jabs, mimic the gut hormone GLP-1 that regulates appetite. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
UK’s gender pay gap ‘won’t close for 30 years’ at current rates
Trades Union Congress says women have worked a month and a half for free this year and legislation is neededWomen in the UK will not be paid the same as men until 2056 at the current rate of progress, according to a Trades Union Congress report.The gender pay gap, which stands at £2,548 a year, means that women have in effect worked for free so far this year, the TUC said. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘Nice shoes, mate’: we road test the brick-shaped £199 Lego Crocs
Lego and Crocs have joined forces to create oversized Lego-shaped shoes. Are they as ridiculous as they sound? We sent our most podophilic writer to find outEveryone knows that standing on Lego is the worst pain known to man, but standing in Lego Crocs – how bad can they be? And are they really worth £199? I got hold of a prototype pair to test how my feet would survive. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Global week ahead: Markets brace for more AI noise and 'scare trading'
Looking back at last week's volatility could gives some clues for the trading week ahead.
cnbc.com
The NFL just wrapped a record-breaking season. Here’s why next year’s going to be even bigger
In the days leading up to the Super Bowl, the NFL announced that Paris, Melbourne and Rio de Janeiro will host regular-season games for the first time.
theguardian.com
‘The perfect place for people like me’: how one couple started UK’s first women’s sports bar
Lucy and Pippa Tallant have opened the Crossbar, in Brighton, to create a place for women to feel comfortable watching all sportYou can’t miss it, the giant “Crossbar” flanked by two stylised crosses in black on the whitewashed outside walls glares down the street, a stone’s throw from Brighton’s Churchill Square. Outside is the narrow shelf that the co-owner Lucy Tallant, the DIY enthusiast of the pair, attached to the wall for those wanting to hang around outside. As she worked on that shelf, two girls walked past and one proclaimed: “Yeah, they’re opening a lesbian club.” “A lesbian club?” replied the other, “Yeah, there’s one outside now.”Lucy was in stitches, and so was social media when she posted about what she had overheard. The shelf has become a thing, with lesbians posing for photographs and then sharing online with versions of “there’s one outside now” as the caption. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Firm that went bust owing £650k to HMRC offers staff Las Vegas trip after being bought by ex-owner
Acquisition by Premier Group Recruitment boss Andrew Woosnam appears to be example of ‘phoenixism’A recruitment business that went bust owing the tax authorities and other creditors almost £3m has promised to send its staff on an all-expenses paid trip to Las Vegas after being repurchased by its former owner for an initial £10,000.Premier Group Recruitment went into administration in September with debts of £2.9m – including £647,000 owed to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), which had commenced enforcement proceedings against the company. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Last chance for pensioners to get free air fryers
The council has handed out 15,000 free air fryers help people with the cost of living.
theguardian.com
Shattered dreams: Why the battle for Sunderland’s glass centre has turned into a political flashpoint
Custodian University of Sunderland says renovation costs of £45m are too high and building must be pulled down. Not without a fight, say locals, who believe they’re being taken for foolsThe “little pieces of Sunderland” produced by the city’s glassmaking factory for more than a century can be traced back to an even older story that began in the seventh century, when English glassmaking began at a monastery beside the River Wear, run by abbott and later saint Benedict Biscop.In 2007, the Pyrex factory that opened more than 100 years earlier and made glass that found its way into millions of homes closed down, with production moved to France. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Brushing fraud: Britons told to beware of mystery parcels as new scam soars
Fraudsters use stolen personal details to send out products, then post a fake verified and positive online reviewA package arrives but you can’t remember ordering anything.When you open it, you find some cheap, flimsy jewellery. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘It makes no sense’: the battle over plans for a windfarm by the Yorkshire Dales
The fight for Hope Moor is set to be repeated across the UK as the government aims to hit its renewable energy targetsInstead of a slingshot, the Davids are brandishing a sculpture and a coffee table book. Their Goliaths are a Norwegian energy company and a UK energy secretary with renewable targets to meet.A fierce battle has begun over one of England’s tallest windfarms, proposed for deep peat moorland overlooking the Yorkshire Dales national park, in what residents say will mark the irrevocable industrialisation of their rural landscape. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
No fuel, no tourists, no cash – this was the week the Cuban crisis got real
Diplomats in Havana are preparing for an alternative Trump tactic: the country being starved until people take to the streets and the US can step inAmong the verdant gardens of Havana’s diplomatic quarter, Siboney, ambassadors from countries traditionally allied to the United States are expressing increasing frustration with Washington’s attempt to unseat Cuba’s government, while simultaneously drawing up plans to draw down their missions.Cuba is in crisis. Already reeling from a four-year economic slump, worsened by hyper-inflation and the migration of nearly 20% of the population, the 67-year-old communist government is at its weakest. After Washington’s successful military operation against Cuba’s ally Venezuela at the beginning of January, the US administration is actively seeking regime change. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Could Manchester be a model for the UK to kickstart growth?
With an annual growth rate of 3.1%, Manchester's economy has performed twice as well as that of the UK as a whole.
theguardian.com
BrewDog could be broken up as craft beer business put up for sale
Brewer last month said it was closing its distilling brands, prompting concerns for jobs at its Scottish facilityThe beer-maker BrewDog could be broken up after consultants were called in to help find new investors.The Scotland-based brewer, which makes craft beer such as Punk IPA and Elvis Juice, has appointed consultants AlixPartners to oversee the sale process. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
US military used Anthropic’s AI model Claude in Venezuela raid, report says
Wall Street Journal says Claude used in operation via Anthropic’s partnership with Palantir TechnologiesClaude, the AI model developed by Anthropic, was used by the US military during its operation to kidnap Nicolás Maduro from Venezuela, the Wall Street Journal revealed on Saturday, a high-profile example of how the US defence department is using artificial intelligence in its operations.The US raid on Venezuela involved bombing across the capital, Caracas, and the killing of 83 people, according to Venezuela’s defence ministry. Anthropic’s terms of use prohibit the use of Claude for violent ends, for the development of weapons or for conducting surveillance. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Record 1,000 UK taxpayers under 30 earned more than £1m last year
HMRC figures show 11% rise in young million-pound earners, with influencers and tech pay cited as keyTheir generation is often derided for being work-shy, self-centred and overly sensitive. But when it comes to making money, people under 30 are proving they are something else entirely: successful.A record 1,000 taxpayers under 30 earned more than £1m last year, an 11% increase on the year before, HMRC records show. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Limited government shutdown likely to linger for at least 10 days as Congress takes break
13% of federal civilian workforce is affected, although DHS – which spurred budget standoff – remains fundedA limited US government shutdown came into effect on Saturday – the third of Donald Trump’s second term – after negotiations between the White House and Democrats in Congress failed to agree on new restrictions for federal immigration agents.The shutdown affects about 13% of the federal civilian workforce and is confined to agencies under the umbrella of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), including the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), which screens airline passengers. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Senior Reform UK figures attend launch of How to Launder Money book
Co-author George Cottrell is close aide to party leader Nigel Farage and served several months in US prisonAs a choice for a book title, How to Launder Money certainly caught the eye. But then again, its co-author George Cottrell claims to know what he’s talking about.A close aide to Nigel Farage, Cottrell served several months in a US prison after being convicted there in 2017 for wire fraud – a chapter in his life he referred to at his book launch party on Thursday night. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Don't ask 'How much do you make?' on a date—use these 7 questions instead to reveal their 'financial mindset'
"Start with these questions that invite real answers, stories, preferences, and patterns," says Douglas Boneparth, CFP, president and founder of Bone Fide Wealth.
cnbc.com
Berkshire CEO Abel praises Kraft Heinz for turnaround on planned split
Berkshire Hathaway's new CEO likes the surprise course reversal announced this week by the new CEO of Kraft Heinz.
cnbc.com
U.S. and European interests are 'intertwined,' Secretary of State Rubio says
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, the U.S. secretary of State stressed the importance of cooperation with Europe.
theguardian.com
Starmer stresses ‘urgency’ of closer defence ties with Europe at Munich conference
The UK prime minister says stronger security relies on greater cooperation and integration across the continentMunich Security Conference – live updatesKeir Starmer said there was an urgent need for a closer UK defence relationship with Europe, covering procurement and manufacturing, so that the UK would be at the centre of a stronger European defence setup.In a rare visit to the Munich Security Conference, the British prime minister told the audience, to applause, “we are 10 years on from Brexit. We are not the Britain of the Brexit years.” Continue reading...
bbc.com
Craft beer maker Brewdog put up for sale
Consultants Alix Partners have been brought in to oversee the sales process which could lead to the businesses being broken up.
theguardian.com
Trump’s repeal of landmark Obama-era climate rule: four key takeaways
Environmental groups say ‘cynical and devastating’ reversal of endangerment finding has grave implicationsThe Trump administration has dismantled the basis for all US climate regulations, in its most confrontational anti-environment move yet.The 2009 endangerment finding determined that greenhouse gases threaten public health and welfare and should therefore be controlled by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). By revoking it on Thursday, officials eliminated the legal foundation enabling the government to control planet-heating pollution. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘It’s been life-changing’: young Britons on why they left the UK to work abroad
Skilled workers facing a tough jobs market and high rents at home reveal how they have built new lives elsewhere, from Vancouver to DubaiUK migration could be negative this year – how will that hit the economy?As young people bear the brunt of a downturn in the jobs market, figures show a significant number are leaving the UK.Although statisticians caution against comparing annual figures after a recent change in methodology and stress younger people are traditionally more drawn to emigration, a net 111,000 people aged 16 to 34 emigrated from the UK in the year to March 2025, according to the Office for National Statistics. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Learn this from Bezos and the Washington Post: with hypercapitalists in charge, your news is not safe | Jane Martinson
His shameful stewardship of a once great title highlights how much we lose when private interest eclipses the public goodNot long after being made Time magazine’s Person of the Year in 1999, Jeff Bezos told me: “They were not choosing me as much as they were choosing the internet, and me as a symbol.” A quarter of an increasingly dark century later, the Amazon founder is now a symbol of something else: how the ultra-rich can kill the news.Job cuts in an industry that has struggled financially since the internet came into existence and killed its business model is hardly new, but last week’s brutal cull of hundreds of journalists at the Bezos-owned Washington Post marks a new low. The redundancies that were announced to staff on a video call, the axing of half its foreign bureau (including the war reporter in Ukraine) – not since P&O Ferries have layoffs been handled so badly. Former Post stalwart Paul Farhi described a decision that affected nearly half of the 790-strong workforce as “the biggest one-day wipeout of journalists in a generation”. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Rising vet costs leave charity with £400k bill
The group, based in Solihull and Wolverhampton, says its vet bills are costing them more.
theguardian.com
Pension annuity sales hit record as average pot exceeds £80,000
Rachel Reeves’s inheritance tax changes encourage more people to invest in previously unloved product The government’s “inheritance tax raid” on pensions has helped drive sales of retirement annuities to new highs.Industry data this week revealed they enjoyed a “record-breaking” 2025, with sales growing by 4% to £7.4bn and the average amount invested in an annuity surpassing £80,000 for the first time. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Peta calls for pork-free menus as Peppa Pig show rolls into Grimsby
Auditorium to remove bacon and sausages from cafe during stage run after request from campaign groupCampaigners are calling on theatre bosses to stop serving bacon, sausages and ham in their cafes – at least while Peppa Pig and her family are performing in the same building.Grimsby Auditorium in Lincolnshire said this week it would remove pork from the menu when Peppa Pig’s Big Family Show opens next month, after a request from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta UK). The campaign group is sending the venue vegan ham as an alternative. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘My husband burned down our house – then the bank threatened repossession’
A family struggled to rebuild their lives after an abusive marriage ended in tragedy and financial ruinFamily life ended for Francesca Onody on a late summer evening in 2022 when her abusive husband doused their cottage with petrol as police arrived to arrest him. She and her children escaped seconds before the building exploded. Her husband Malcolm Baker died in the blaze.That night, Onody lost her husband, her home, her pets and her possessions. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
What's next for Cuba? Trump turns the screws as the island runs out of jet fuel
Cuba’s government appears to be on the brink of economic collapse amid a worsening energy crisis.
cnbc.com
It's been a big — but rocky — week for AI models from China. Here's what's happened
New AI models launched by China's biggest players underscore how the country's companies are keeping up with the U.S.
theguardian.com
Race to find source of carcinogenic Pfas in Cumbria and Lancashire waters
Exclusive: High levels of banned ‘forever chemical’ have been detected in rivers and groundwater at 25 sitesA string of toxic pollution hotspots has been uncovered across Cumbria and Lancashire, with high levels of the banned cancer-causing “forever chemical” Pfos detected in rivers and groundwater at 25 sites.The contamination, spread across a large area, was uncovered by Watershed Investigations and the Guardian after a freedom of information request revealed high concentrations of Pfos in Environment Agency samples taken in January 2025. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Andrew facing claim he shared Treasury document with banking contact
Reports suggest the former prince shared a Treasury document when he was serving as trade envoy.
bbc.com
Are families being priced out of restaurants?
The restaurant industry says it is facing a double whammy - rising costs and customers with less money.
bbc.com
Heathrow not crowded but people walk in 'wrong place', says boss
Chief executive Thomas Woldbye says Europeans and Brits keep "crashing into each other" because they walk on different sides.
cnbc.com
Roku stock surges on earnings beat, record quarter for premium subscriptions
Roku executives said in a shareholder letter that it marked "our biggest quarter ever" for net adds to premium subscriptions.
bbc.com
Amazon's Ring ends deal with surveillance firm after backlash
A Super Bowl advert had sparked new scrutiny of the smart doorbell company's privacy practices.
cnbc.com
Pinterest stock sinks nearly 17% as tariffs hit earnings. Here's what's happening
"Many of the largest retailers have been disproportionately impacted by tariffs and have been pulling back on advertising spend," Pinterest's CEO said.
cnbc.com
Op-ed: With world in 'rupture', too many economic roads lead away from Trump and back to China
The world is moving back closer to China, and unlike during its ascension to the World Trade Organization, this time it is a move away from the United States.
bbc.com
Inflation eases in US as prices for used cars fall
Prices rose by 2.4% in the year to January, the latest official figures show, the slowest pace since May.
cnbc.com
AI disruption could spark a ‘shock to the system’ in credit markets, UBS analyst says
UBS analyst Matthew Mish told CNBC that the artificial intelligence transformation is happening faster than he and his colleagues had previously anticipated.
bbc.com
Head of Dubai-based ports giant quits after Epstein links revealed
Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem’s exit comes after files showed he appears to have exchanged hundreds of emails with Epstein.
cnbc.com
Trump tariffs leave importers with record-breaking $3.5 billion U.S. Customs bond funding shortfall
U.S. Customs identified close to $3.6 billion in surety bond insufficiencies in fiscal 2025, a financial guarantee trade experts say has soared due to tariffs.
cnbc.com
Venezuela oil sales top $1 billion, funds won’t go to Qatar account anymore, Energy secretary says
Democrats in Congress have questioned the transparency and legality of depositing Venezuela oil revenue in Qatar.
theguardian.com
There’s a cost to going cashless | Letters
Readers respond to Sammy Gecsoyler’s article about his week without bank and contactless cardsI welcome Sammy Gecsoyler’s article (My week of only using cash: could a return to notes and coins change my life?, 10 February) while noting that he is young, employed and living in a city, and that he commented about the older cash-payers seen in charity shops.I am one of the many who live rurally. We rely on access to cash. Our lives still include paying small sums – £2.50 for entry and a coffee at our many village societies (open to all), or £5 for lunch provided fortnightly by volunteers – and varying sums to sponsor fundraising or village facilities, or small amounts to travel on our community bus. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Anthropic taps ex-Microsoft CFO, Trump aide Liddell for board
Anthropic has appointed longtime executive and political operative Chris Liddell to its board of directors.
cnbc.com
Why Canada hopes China will boost its auto manufacturing industry
Tariffs have hastened the decline of Canadian auto manufacturing. Deals with China and Korea are a play to revive it. But they may endanger US trade talks.
theguardian.com
AI is indeed coming – but there is also evidence to allay investor fears
Opinions are divided about the potential impact of artificial intelligence as the response to a recent viral essay showsUK ad agencies undergo biggest exodus of staff as AI threatens industryThe message from investors to the software, wealth management, legal services and logistics industries this month has been clear: AI is coming for your business.The release of new, ever more powerful AI tools has coincided with a stock market slide, which has swept up sectors as diverse as drug distribution, commercial property and price comparison sites. Advances in the technology are giving increasing credibility to predictions that it could render millions of white-collar jobs obsolete – or, at least, eat into the profits of established companies. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Consumer prices rose 2.4% annually in January, less than expected
The consumer price index was expected to increase 2.5% from a year ago in January, according to the Dow Jones consensus.
bbc.com
Why you should consider switching bank accounts
Martin Lewis explains why now might be a good time to think about changing your bank account.
cnbc.com
Dubai's DP World replaces CEO after Epstein links emerge
Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem had been the CEO of Dubai's largest port operator since 2016 and chairman since 2007.
cnbc.com
Safe-haven currencies might not be so safe after a volatile year. Here's how the market is rethinking the Swiss franc, dollar and yen
One strategist said the currencies have "undoubtedly lost some of their sheen," while others warned of more volatility ahead.
cnbc.com
How China's 'unruly' speculators might be fueling the frenzy in gold market
Gold has rarely been this volatile, and the bullion's sharp price swings are increasingly being linked to China's speculative traders, some analysts believe.
cnbc.com
Epstein files: Goldman Sachs top lawyer Kathryn Ruemmler to step down after email fallout
Kathryn Ruemmler joins a growing list of people whose professional lives have been rocked by their past associations with Jeffrey Epstein.
cnbc.com
Europe has 'failed' in the face of Trump and Putin's ‘wrecking ball’ politics, top security official says
The head of Europe’s biggest security forum said regional powers were “totally on the sidelines” of major discussions — but that it was their “own fault.”
cnbc.com
Trucking and real estate stocks struggle to gain momentum on Friday after becoming latest victims of AI fears
AI fears gripped equity markets once more to trigger a fresh sell-off on Thursday.
bbc.com
Hello Kitty designer steps down after 46 years
Yuko Yamaguchi oversaw the feline character's rise to global icon status.
cnbc.com
The Tech Download: Can hyperscalers justify their huge AI capex?
Hyperscalers announced capex plans could hit $700 billion this year amid the AI boom.
theguardian.com
Tell us: are you expecting to give or receive an inheritance?
We want to hear from people about how inheritance plays a role in their lives, whether they are giving, receiving or expecting nothing at allLast November, ahead of G20 meetings in Johannesburg, South Africa, economists warned in a report that more than $70tn (£53tn) of inherited wealth will pass down the generations across the world over the next decade, significantly widening inequality.Meanwhile, changes to UK inheritance tax rules, including reforms to business and agricultural tax breaks, have prompted some families to reconsider how and when they pass on assets. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Prices, pipelines and patent cliffs: Inside pharma's big reset
The new year is shaping up to be a defining year following a dramatic 2025, and one where the impact from last year's developments will crystallize.
theguardian.com
Will the Epstein files tarnish the reputation of Jamie Dimon, America’s banker?
The final stretch of the JP Morgan Chase chief’s career is a bumpy one, as Trump himself demands prosecutors investigate Epstein’s ties to Dimon’s bank Continue reading...
bbc.com
Trump revokes key climate ruling which he says has made cars pricier
The White House calls it the largest deregulation in US history, but environmentalists say it will prove costly for Americans.
theguardian.com
‘A great wee place’: the small Scottish factory crafting Olympic curling stones
All stones in Cortina are made from granite found on tiny island in Firth of Clyde and crafted in East Ayrshire“It takes 60m years and about six hours to make a curling stone,” shouts Ricky English above the whine of the lathes. The operations manager at Kays Scotland is surrounded by wheels of ancient granite in varying states of refinement.It is a small business with a big responsibility: the only factory in the world to supply the Winter Olympics with curling stones. Competitors don’t travel with their own stones, which weigh about 18kg each, and with 16 required for a game. Instead, this year, 132 stones were crafted in the East Ayrshire town of Mauchline and shipped to northern Italy. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
These four charts show how reliant Europe is on U.S. digital infrastructure
U.S. companies hold 85% of the European cloud market, per data from Synergy Research Group, a market analytics company.
cnbc.com
China's Baidu adds OpenClaw AI into search app for 700 million users ahead of Lunar New Year
Chinese search engine operator Baidu plans Friday to start letting smartphone app users to directly tell OpenClaw AI to perform tasks.
bbc.com
AirAsia accused by artist for allegedly using his work without consent
A Penang-based street artist says his work has been "reproduced" as part of a livery on an aircraft
theguardian.com
Homes for sale in England for £300,000 or less – in pictures
From a picturesque cottage in a country village to a listed building in the heart of bustling Manchester Continue reading...
theguardian.com
First-time buyers enjoy biggest choice of low-deposit mortgages in UK since 2008
More than 500 deals now offer 95% loans as banks and building societies loosen their borrowing rulesWould-be first-time buyers have the biggest choice of low-deposit mortgages for at least 18 years, new data shows, suggesting that 2026 is looking positive for those trying to get a foot on the property ladder.In recent months many banks and building societies have been loosening their affordability rules or launching deals that let people borrow 95% of the property’s value, and in some cases more than that. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
U.S.–China proxy battle over Panama Canal ports set to intensify as CK Hutchison warns of legal action
The simmering dispute has become a geopolitical flashpoint between Washington and Beijing, with Panama caught in the crossfires.
bbc.com
AI safety leader says 'world is in peril' and quits to study poetry
It comes in the same week an OpenAI researcher resigned amid concerns about its decision to start testing ChatGPT ads.
theguardian.com
Gold thief flees scene of the crime on donkey in central Turkey – video
A suspect who broke into a jewellery store using a forklift, allegedly stole 150 grams of gold, and fled the scene on a donkey was arrested in Kayseri, central Turkey. Police teams from the provincial police department identified the suspect after reviewing security camera footage following the incident. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Taylor Swift asks US government to block 'Swift Home' trademark
Her team argued that a bedding firm's designs showed similarities to her trademarked signature.
bbc.com
Costs from Trump's tariffs paid mainly by US firms and consumers, NY Fed says
Last year, collective import tariff rates on various goods coming into the US more than tripled.
bbc.com
AI coding platform's flaws allow BBC reporter to be hacked
Vibe-coding tools - which let people without coding skills create apps using AI - are exploding in popularity.
bbc.com
Rain and politics driving up half-term holiday bookings, travel agents say
The Advantage Travel Partnerships says rain plus the political environment is creating a "powerful psychological need for escape".
bbc.com
The US economy is growing - so where are all the jobs?
As hiring rates and job openings drop, some worry a tough job market could be here to stay.
bbc.com
Get a grip: Robotics firms struggle to develop hands
Developing a durable and affordable hand is one of the biggest challenges in robotics.
bbc.com
US antitrust chief resigns amid tensions with Trump officials
The departure of Gail Slater has raised questions about the White House's approach to policing big mergers and monopolies.
bbc.com
FTC warns Apple over alleged lack of conservative news
The tech giant is facing pressure over claims that its news app does not feature articles from conservative outlets.
bbc.com
Salmon exports remain high but Scotch whisky falls
Scottish salmon exports increased in tonnage by 9%, while the volume of Scotch whisky exports dropped by 4.3%.
bbc.com
Tesco plans to give under-18s Clubcard access this year
Consumer outlet Which? has been campaigning on access to loyalty schemes, calling it a "huge win for shoppers".
theguardian.com
Ben Jennings on Jim Ratcliffe’s ‘colonisation’ comments – cartoon
Discover and buy more of Ben’s cartoons hereOrder your own print of this cartoon from the Guardian Print Shop Continue reading...
bbc.com
Probe ordered into Daily Mail owner's £500m takeover of Telegraph
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy orders a review of the deal on public interest and competition grounds.
bbc.com
Thousands queue as beauty store arrives on island of Ireland
Almost 2,000 people joined the queue for the opening of a new store in Belfast this morning.
theguardian.com
Ratcliffe backlash: outrage over Manchester United boss comments | The Latest
The Monaco-based billionaire Jim Ratcliffe has said he is sorry that his ‘choice of language has offended some people’, after growing outrage over his comments that the UK was being ‘colonised by immigrants’.The Manchester United co-owner has faced a mounting backlash since making the remarks, which have been labelled hypocritical and reminiscent of ‘far-right narratives’.Lucy Hough speaks to the sports writer and columnist Jonathan Liew. Continue reading...
bbc.com
'Tens of thousands' affected by law firm collapse
The Solicitors Regulation Authority say an investigation into PM Law's collapse is ongoing.
theguardian.com
‘People like cheap energy’: the bagel shop saving money and emissions with plug-in batteries
A pilot scheme in Brooklyn is giving businesses batteries to form an electricity storage network – part of a growing number of innovative DIY energy ideas around the worldIn the back of Black Seed Bagels in northern Brooklyn is a giant catering kitchen filled with industrial-size containers of condiments and freezers full of dough. A tall, silver electric oven named the Baconator stands in a far corner, cooking thousands of pounds of meat every week to accompany Black Seed’s hand-rolled, wood-fired bagels. The Baconator is connected to a battery the size of a carry-on suitcase, which is plugged into the wall.While the morning rush is under way, the 2.8-kilowatt-hour battery can directly power the commercial oven to reduce the company’s reliance on the electric grid, Noah Bernamoff, Black Seed’s co-owner, explained recently at the company’s Bushwick shop. Two more batteries are paired with energy-intensive refrigerators in the front. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Who is billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe and how did he make his money?
The industrialist and Manchester United co-owner has apologised over comments he made about immigration.
bbc.com
Reeves says 'more to do' after sluggish GDP growth
The chancellor's comments came after figures showed the UK economy saw a lacklustre end to 2025.
bbc.co.uk
The Bottom Line
Why do private landlords attract so much criticism – and how fair is it?
bbc.com
Civil service pension backlog 'overwhelmed' Capita, boss says
Thousands of retiring civil servants have been left without pension payments causing hardship for some.
theguardian.com
‘Another way to gamble money’: booming prediction markets prompt confusion and concern
Polymarket and Kalshi are less regulated than betting sites, but users can win or lose large sums on the platformsYadin Eldar, 21, has been betting on prediction markets since 2019. His friends think he’s “crazy”, he said. But the craze surrounding these platforms is rapidly gathering steam.Users can bet on virtually anything, from the outcome of Sunday’s Super Bowl to whether the US will invade Greenland, every second of every day. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Inside Will Lewis’s tumultuous two years as publisher of the Washington Post
Before the Post’s sweeping layoffs and Lewis’s abrupt resignation, his tenure was marked by controversy and clashes with staffStanding on the seventh floor in the center of the Washington Post’s open newsroom on the morning of 3 June 2024, publisher Will Lewis decided to deliver some tough love to a news organization he had taken charge of five months earlier.Lewis, a veteran of Rupert Murdoch’s media empire, had replaced Fred Ryan, a former Ronald Reagan aide who had presided over some of the Post’s profitable years – during the first Trump administration – but lost the confidence of some staffers after clashing with employees during a late 2022 town hall. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Economics has failed on the climate crisis. This complexity scientist has a mind-blowing plan to fix that
Doyne Farmer says a super-simulator of the global economy would accelerate the transition to a green, clean worldIt’s a mind-blowing idea: an economic model of the world in which every company is individually represented, making realistic decisions that change as the economy changes. From this astonishing complexity would emerge forecasts of unprecedented clarity. These would be transformative: no more flying blind into global financial crashes, no more climate policies that fail to shift the dial.This super simulator could be built for what Prof Doyne Farmer calls the bargain price of $100m, thanks to advances in complexity science and computing power. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
BTS comeback tour turbocharges concert tourism, with hotel searches jumping as much as 6,700%
The announcement of South Korean boyband BTS' comeback global tour is expected to boost tourism in host cities.
theguardian.com
What bots talk about when they think humans aren’t listening – podcast
In late January a new social media site took a certain corner of the internet by storm. Moltbook was conceived as a space where AI assistants could let off steam, chat and compare notes on their bosses, but it quickly became the focus of breathless claims that the singularity had arrived as the bots started badmouthing their humans and plotting an uprising. So what’s the truth about Moltbook? Madeleine Finlay hears from Aisha Down about what it tells us about AI, and about us.What is Moltbook? The strange new social media site for AI botsSupport the Guardian: theguardian.com/sciencepod Continue reading...
bbc.com
The Dutch love four-day working weeks, but are they sustainable?
The Netherlands has the lowest working hours in Europe, but some say it is harming its economy.
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Netflix and Paramount are battling for Warner Bros. Who is likely to win?
What to know about the two firms' blockbuster battle to control Warner Bros Discovery.
bbc.com
How £50m 'fish disco' could save farmland
Innovative tech scares fish away from nuclear cooling pipes.
bbc.com
Why food fraud persists, even with improving tech
Even with sophisticated technology it is still difficult to detect fake foods.
bbc.com
Plane makers chase Asia's super-rich with luxe new private jets
Parts of the aviation industry are shifting towards wealthy customers and selling a more luxurious type of international travel.
bbc.com
Kids can be the harshest critics…
The candidates test their story on a group of kids.
bbc.com
Should you overpay your mortgage or save?
Martin Lewis explains.
bbc.com
The real impact of roadworks on the country - and why they're set to get worse
There is a fine balance between the benefits of improved infrastructure, versus the cost of disruption. Does the country have it right?
bbc.com
Why the railways often seem to be in such chaos over Christmas
Parts of Britain’s rail network will close for engineering work over the festive period - but is that the right time to do it?
bbc.com
Budget 2025: What's the best and worst that could happen for Labour?
Three days in, after a tax U-turn and partial climbdown on workers' rights, Laura Kuenssberg looks at what impact Budget week might have.
bbc.com
Has Britain's budget watchdog become too all-powerful?
Ahead of this week's Budget, some have accused the Office for Budget Responsibility of being a "straitjacket on growth"
bbc.com
The curious case of why Poundland is struggling during a cost-of-living crisis
Why - in an age where so many of us are feeling the financial pinch - are some budget shops on UK high streets having such a tough time?
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